My Brother’s Mate
Chapter 53

Emily's POV

"Emily." My father says standing from his desk.

"Hi dad." The words felt weird and the lingered in the air. He wasn't my real dad, but I didn't know what else to call him. He came out from behind his desk slowly. "What are you doing here?" He asks.

"It's Carol's birthday." I say.

"Did anyone see you come in?" He asks walking over to the door and locks it.

"Dad, I'm not really here." He looks at me confused. Then he reaches out a hand and it goes right through my stomach. He pulls it back quickly like he was touching fire.

"Wow." Is all he says.

"What's going on?" I ask him.

"The Alpha is away on business. As Beta I'm filling in for him."

"Not with this, with you, us, me, mom." He sighs and leans back on his desk. He crosses his arms in front of him. Nothing he has done makes me think he's any different than the father I've known my whole life.

"That's a long story Emily. And when it started I was a different man." He looks down at the floor.

"I need to know. Please." He sighs again.

"As a young man moving up in the pack and mates with the potential bloodline, your mom, I was called on by the council. They asked me to report any odd behavior from your mom. If she displayed any magical abilities or hid any secrets. But over the years, I never saw anything. I was relieved, she's my mate after all. But when we were trying for you, things took a turn. I found out I couldn't have kids, I think your mom didn't know that I knew. When she turned up pregnant, I made a mistake. I was angry, I couldn't understand how she got pregnant if it wasn't from me. I thought she had cheated on me with someone else. I told the council what had happened. They told me to stay with her and keep the child. Later on, it was actually the council that told me she had gone to a clinic, I'm not sure how they found out. Once I found that out I realized the mistake I had made. But I couldn't change it, the wheels were already in motion. They told me to watch you for magical abilities as well. I was so happy when you didn't show any powers. I thought we were in the clear." He trails off.

"What council?" I ask

"The Were council, they are basically all the Pures."

"What? I thought you were with the Seekers? Luther was here, he killed Brody. The night of the Announcement."

"I heard about Brody, I'm sorry honey. Alpha James and Luna Jackie are working with the Seekers. That's a whole other mess. What I gathered was Mike made a deal with Luther to get rid of Liam and mate with you. Luther used Liam and Mike as leverage against Alpha and Luna to get closer to you. Luther just used everyone in the pack as a pawn to get closer to what he wanted, you. He wanted to get to you with out a full blown war, but that didn't work." "Where are they now?"

"Honestly, I have no idea. They were here for awhile until I told the Pures and they ran them out. If I had to guess, he's headed to where you are."

"So you are working with the Pures. Does that mean you believe I should be dead?" I felt tears building up, but held them back.

"Emily, when I found out your mom had gone to a clinic just to give me a child, my heart softened. I raised you as mine. You are my daughter. When you started getting visions and asking about your ancestors. I didn't say a thing. I knew we couldn't hide it forever, but I tried my best to cover it up. The Luna and Alpha asked a lot of questions about your visions and magic. But don't hold it against them, they just wanted Liam back. I felt like we were all in a hard position. I thought I was being loyal to my kind, but I was young." "And mom?"

"She's my mate and I still love her. But it's not safe for either of you to be here, or with me. The Pures believe I am working with them, but they are still watching me. When the Pures drove out the Seekers, they left a few men behind to keep an eye on everything." He "Things will never be the same, will they?" I ask already knowing the answer.

says.

"I'm afraid not Emily. You are already so different from when I last saw you. And I see you've grown into your magic. No matter what happens Emily, I want you to know I'm proud of you and the woman you've become." He says it like he's saying goodbye to me. I feel the tears gather in my eyes before falling down my cheek. Memories of my childhood and my dad come to the surface. I remember when we went for our first family wolf run together. I remember him training me to fight. I remember him picking me up from school when I got sick, reading bedtime stories to me. He is still the father I had all my life. I see the hurt in his eyes. I could tell he wanted to hold me, but couldn't. I hear the boards of the floor creak.

"Honey, you have to go." My dad says. I wipe the tears from my eyes and face and nod, I know my voice will betray me if I speak. I close my eyes and think of Carol and her house. I think of Carol's bedroom.

"Your back." I hear before I open my eyes. And see Carol sitting on her bed. The realization that I most likely never see my dad again sends tears down my face. I collapse to the floor and Carol rushes to my side.

"Em what happened? What's wrong?" She wants to comfort me, but can't.

"I just spoke with my dad. It felt like we were saying goodbye, forever."

"Oh Em I'm so sorry." She says. She lets me cry for a moment. I try to calm myself down.

"Em, what did he say?"

"A lot actually." I told her about my conversation with him.

"It might not be goodbye, it might not be forever." Carol says trying to cheer me up. But I can't shake the feeling it was goodbye. And my feelings are usually right. I gather myself together and stop crying. I give her my best fake smile. "You might be right." I know I only have a short amount of time here and it is her birthday. She smiles back at me, more with sympathy than anything.

"Enough about me, this is your birthday. And I have missed you." I say. She gives me a more genuine smile.

"I have missed you too! Can you believe I'm 18?" She asks. Before I can respond Carol continues. "So how are thing Em? How are you and Mike? He disappeared after the announcement I assumed you two ran away together or something." "Actually it's a long story. But you should know. Liam is not dead, he is my true mate and he and I are doing just fine."

"Oh yeah the prophecy, yeah I heard some of these new warriors that have been patrolling our pack talking about it. Emily I can't believe you have magical powers that so crazy?! I mean look at you! You're here but you're not here. It's insane. Oh my gosh I've just missed you so much. Geez I can't believe Mike would do something like that. I just goes to show you, you never really can trust the people you think you can trust. I think I read that in a book or something. Liam's alive? Yay! I always thought you and him were better together anyway. Goddess things have been so strange around here since you left. OH! I watched Superbad the other day."

I forgot how much Carol can ramble. She said so many things I can barely remember what we were even talking about.

"Superbad? Good movie. Uhh Yes! Life is crazy.. but enough about me! It's your birthday Carol! 18 is a great age, and now you can get your mate!"

I notice her face drop to a frown.

"Mate. Ugh. Jacob." She says.

"I'm surprised he's not here now." And right as I say it, there's a knock at the front door. Carol jumps up in a panic.

"That's him. It has to be him."

"Carol it's ok. Having a mate is one of the best things about being a werewolf." I say.

"I know, I just didn't think I'd replace mine so quickly." She says. Another knock at the door.

"You have to answer the door." I say.

"What if we pretend we aren't here?"

"Carol!" I scold.

"Ok bad idea." She takes a deep breath and heads to the front door. I follow behind her. She takes another breath before opening the door to Jacob. Jacob and Carol look like two statues having a staring contest. I shift my eyes back and forth between them waiting for one of them to move. Then suddenly Carol lunges at Jacob, her legs wrap around his waist and their lips collide.

"Happy birthday Carol." I whisper. I wish I could stay longer, but I feel my magic draining and my mind is just thinking about my father. And Carol looks like she could use some alone time with her mate. I close my eyes and think back to the cut on my hand and the blood being shared with Marcus. I open my eyes and I'm back in the mountain.

"Welcome back. How was it?" Marcus asks. I felt a dam break inside me and tears again flowed from my eyes.

"E what happened?" Marcus asks. But I just cry and this time someone is able to comfort me.

Unknown POV

"When will you be here?"

"Soon. Just keep your eyes open and report anything you see to me."

"Her magic is quite powerful. They have been training her everyday for the past two months."

"Who has?" He asks.

"A man named Marcus."

"We will be there in 3 days. I need you to get between them. Create some issues. We need their attention to be drawn elsewhere."

"I'll do what I can."